The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-08
WRESTLING IN JAPAN.
The Participants and Audience in
Favorite Form Of Amusement.

fTOW UH C-bCItUItyC'
Another favorite form of amusement is
wrestling. was so fortunate as to be able
to witness a regular wrestling bout the other
day, and will try to describe it. In some
Open field sort of roof is made of mating
upheld by bamboo poles. Under this in the
center is a raised platform of earth, on
which is made small ring, perhaps ten
feet across, by making little ridge OF dirt
or turf. About this ring, in large circle,
sit all the contestants on the ground, their
only article of clothing being breech-cloth
about the waist. On the platform beside
the ring stands the master of ceremonies.
He is clothed in all the magnificence he can
buy or borrow. He makes a short, stirring
speech. telling what undying honor will
attach to the winner in this particular tour
nament. Then with his wand he summons
up the first two contestants Entering the
ring, they bow to each other. One says:
sit gives me pleasure to take lesson IN
wrestling from such a skillful man as you"
The other says: II shall be more skillful
after being taught by you" Meantime,
each takes an inventory of the others mus
cles. Then both drop to a crouching posi-
ton with one hand on the ground. The
master of ceremonies gives them both
sounding slap on the back, and the fun has
commenced.
back or push him out of the ring. Either
constitutes a ''fall" At first they get hold
of each others hands and put their heads
down close together, side by side, and push
Suddenly, one dives his arm under the
others arm and around his body, at the
same time putting out one leg and trying
to trip his antagonist over. But, meantime,
the other fellow has had his eye on his ad-
versary's left leg, and, suddenly diving, he
gets hold of that memberp and with a
tremendous push, lands his fish" six feet
outside the ring. Then comes a roar and a
cheer. The victor smiles blandly, and as
much as to say: "That was easy enough
while the victim shakes his head as he re-
tires, as much as to say: HE don't play
quite according to rule Mine was skill, his
brute force.n The man who beats the first
time has to keep on until he is beaten, SO in
comes the next. He is a short, dirty, be-
grimed specimen, with long, bushy hair
Soon they are at it. They circle around and
around few moments, and finally come to-
gether with clash. Each has the other in
a death hug. Then such swayiDg and reel
ing forward and back, twisting and strain
ing, huge muscles sticking out like knots OF
rope on their brawny limbs. Finally,
lucky twist on the part of the little fellow
and his opponent has to step outside the ring
or lose his balance, SO he does 1t
quietly and gracefully and walks off
without any guilty look and affords the
rare spectacle of a man who can be con-
quered gracefully The little, long-haired
dirty fellow still holds the ring, when up
walks strapping big fellow with hair nice
ly brushed and colored tights on. He is a
swell wrestler, and brings out the cheers OF
the audience. But the little fellow in the
ring eyes him as much as to say, " have
seen dude wrestlers BEFORE The fiashy one
looks at his opponent with ill-concealed con-
tempt, and splitting ON his hands prepares
to annihilate him. The small fellow is eau
tious at first, and rather seeks to keep out OF
hls antagonists way as long as possible; but
at last comes the grip, and now they are
bead to head. each grasping the others arms.